5 Important Reasons You Should Visit Your Senior Relatives

By Rick Cohen, 9:00 am on May 19, 2017

Socialization helps seniors boost their overall quality of life. By regularly visiting your senior relatives and spending some time with them, you can help them stave off depression and isolation. Here are some of the benefits your loved one can gain through visits from family members.

1. Evaluate Wellbeing

Visiting your loved one allows you to evaluate his or her health in person. This is a great way for you to monitor your loved one’s medications and determine if anything has changed since your last visit. You can also see if he or she needs additional help with daily activities or running errands. Visiting gives you some time to go over a nutritional checklist with your loved one or talk to him or her about hiring a professional caregiver.

Milwaukee, WI, non-medical home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.

2. Prevent Fraud

Seniors are susceptible to fraud, including telemarketing scams, insurance fraud, and internet scams. However, visiting your older relative allows you to keep an eye on this type of abuse and educate him or her on how to prevent fraud. It is a good idea to check your loved one’s insurance statements and verify everything is normal. You can also scan the mail to make sure no scams have been sent to your loved one.

3. Elevate Mood

Being alone could lead to anxiety and depression, which puts seniors at a greater risk of heart disease, strokes, and obesity. However, visits from you and other relatives can help your loved one stay connected and stave off loneliness. From the moment you step through the door, your loved one may experience an immediate boost to his or her mood. The positive endorphins released through your loved one’s body help ward off depression, stress, and social isolation.

4. Stave Off Memory Loss

Aging puts seniors at a higher risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, frequent visits from family members help seniors stave off these health conditions. Being social is a great way to keep the mind stimulated and active. You can also go through photo albums, watch movies or television shows, and share old memories with your loved one. Some of your loved one’s happiest memories are likely tied to sounds, smells, and sights, and a simple visit from relatives can bring these memories back.

Aging adults with Alzheimer’s disease can benefit from receiving professional Alzheimer’s care. Milwaukee seniors need regular mental stimulation when managing memory-related conditions, and a reliable in-home caregiver who has extensive training in Alzheimer’s care can be a great asset.

5. Create New Memories

Past memories are great for seniors, but creating new memories can be even better. You can also benefit from visiting your loved one on a regular basis, as it gives you a chance to create new and lasting memories with him or her. Be sure to do something fun each time you visit with your older relative, such as cooking together, walking through the neighborhood, or hosting an intimate family gathering. This ensures your family has new, cherished memories to look back to in the future.

Visiting your aging loved one allows you to observe his or her cognitive abilities. If your loved one begins to show signs of dementia or another form of cognitive decline, speak with his or her doctor immediately and consider hiring a professional caregiver. In Milwaukee, WI, dementia home care professionals are available around the clock to help seniors with memory-related conditions age in place safely and comfortably. At Home Care Assistance, we understand the needs of seniors with dementia and the unique challenges they face as the disease progresses. To create a customized hourly, 24-hour, or dementia care plan for your senior loved one, call one of our knowledgeable Care Managers at (262) 782-3383 today.